easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: An IS auditor is evaluating the effectiveness of…
An IS auditor is evaluating the effectiveness of an organization's business continuity plan (BCP). Which of the following findings would be of GREATEST concern?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often focus on obvious physical security or documentation issues (like tape storage or outdated contact lists) and underestimate that the absence of testing renders all other BCP components unvalidated, making it the most critical finding from an audit perspective.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The BCP has not been tested in over two years
The BCP has not been tested in over two years is the greatest concern because testing is the only way to validate that the plan works under real-world conditions. Without recent testing, the organization cannot be confident that recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs) are achievable, and any gaps or assumptions in the plan remain undiscovered. ISACA standards recommend testing at least annually, and a two-year gap significantly increases the risk of plan failure during an actual disaster.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The backup tapes are stored in a locked cabinet in the server room
Why it's wrong here
Offsite storage is better but not the greatest concern.
- ✗
The BCP contact list has not been updated in six months
Why it's wrong here
Important but can be quickly updated.
- ✓
The BCP has not been tested in over two years
Why this is correct
Lack of testing means the plan may fail in a disaster.
- ✗
The BCP relies on manual workarounds for critical systems
Why it's wrong here
If tested, manual workarounds can be acceptable.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISA exam.